Newly formed CTV operator High Speed Transfers took delivery of the newest vessel to its Fast Crew Supplier range at Seawork, the Damen built FCS 2710.

Building on the success of Damen’s bestselling FCS 2610 model first introduced in 2011, the new vessel, named HST Hudson, has been designed to meet the evolving requirements of the offshore energy industry.

Practical input from clients such as Siemans and E.ON has also fed into the design of the new model, which is one metre longer than its predecessor and has more than double the interior volume, without any loss to the cargo space available on deck.

HST, a newcomer to the offshore energy transfer sector, are initially planning to focus on serving the offshore energy sectors in UK waters, with their first contract taking place off the West Coast. HST managing director, Tom Nevin, commented, "this will be the perfect opportunity for the FCS 2710 to prove its capabilities in the challenging conditions found in those waters."

Able to carry up to 34, the 27 metre vessel clearly has been selected with round 3 windfarms in mind.

This is the first Damen vessel that Swansea-based HST have received, though company founders Tom Nevin, Ian Oxford and Chris Monan have delivered twelve Damen vessels to other clients in their previous 20 years’ experience working within the offshore energy sector. Tom Nevin added, "We appreciate the quality and level of support Damen offer and hope to build a fleet of four to six FCS 2710s over time. We see exciting times ahead, particularly in offshore renewables.”

The FCS 2710 is the successor vessel to the highly popular FCS 2610, which has sold over 40 vessels worldwide over the past seven years. The FCS 2710 retains the successful twin hull, axe bow design but is one metre longer and higher than its predecessor. That, plus a complete redesign of the interior, allows it to carry twice the number of passengers as the FCS 2610 and enables it to deliver more flexibility, more tank capacity, greater deck space, increased comfort and more accommodation. The extra metre above the water also allows the vessel to operate in wave heights of above two metres. This substantially increases the range of weather conditions in which it can be at sea.

On the opening day of the show the first vessel of the new class, owned by High Speed Transfers Ltd, was officially named HST Hudson by managing director Tom Nevin’s young son of the same name. A new entry into the offshore transfers sector based in Swansea, Wales, HST has been set up by three experienced operatives from the offshore industry. They see the FCS 2710 as an effective way to make an immediate impact by using a completely redesigned version of a vessel-type that is already well known in the market.

After the naming ceremony, Tom Nevin commented: “We’re so excited to launch this 2710. We think it’s going to be a game-changer in the industry, and we’re very proud to be operating the first one! Also I’d like to thank everyone who visited our vessel today and for all the kind words. My son Hudson who the vessel is named after will definitely remember this day for a long time. A huge thanks to my partners Christopher Monan and Ian Oxford, all the crew, and to Damen Sales Manager Arjen van Elk and the Damen team.”

The vessel has a large foredeck which can transport up to three ISO containers to carry a payload of up to 20 tonnes, and a Heila HLM 20/25 deck crane to enable the vessel to operate out of ports with reduced infrastructure. Both engines and gensets are from Caterpillar. Bow fendering is a honeycomb system from Fender Innovations, which Tom Nevin believes will provide the right balance of compliance and longevity.

The Alphatron bridge boasts Damen's first CTV reference for the impressive Praxis control and monitoring system. The fuel transfer system sits below deck and will pump 120 litres per minute into the turbines during the commissioning phase.

The vessel was heading back to Damen in the Netherlands for a couple of weeks of commissioning jobs, before she starts her first windfarm contract in the Irish Sea.

Asked about his experience this year at Seawork, Tom Nevin said: "The quality of the enquiries we have had has been very impressive. We have arranged multiple sea trials with delegations from the major utility companies."